四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.86

3.86

"If a bhikṣu, having previously accepted an invitation, goes to another family before or after the meal without notifying another bhikṣu, except at the proper time, it is a prāyaścittika. Here, 'time' means a time of illness, a time of robe-making, or a time of robe-giving: these are called the proper times." This complete precept text has three sections: first, the brief promulgation; next, the subsequent promulgation; finally, the comprehensive promulgation. Because of 'before the meal', it was briefly formulated at first; because of 'after the meal', it was subsequently formulated; because of 'being invited and summoned', it was comprehensively promulgated. In the comprehensive precept text there are five clauses: 1. directly clarifying that this is a bhikṣu who has previously accepted another's invitation; 2. going to another family before or after the meal; 3. not notifying; 4. excluding the permitted occasions; 5. fixing the offense. From "except at the proper time" downward repeats the fourth clause above. Analyzing the characteristics and explaining in full: the first clause is obvious. Regarding "before the meal and after the meal": from the break of dawn until the time of eating is called "before the meal"; from after the mealtime until midday is called "after the meal". Third, regarding "without notifying another bhikṣu": the Vinaya states that if they are of the same room, same dwelling, or same boundary, one should inform them of the place of invitation. Fourth, "except at the proper time" refers to the exceptions, among which there are three: 1. illness; 2. robe-making; 3. robe-giving. The meaning is as explained under the precept on eating in separate groups. Fifth, "prāyaścittika" is the clause defining the violation and fixing the offense. The Vinaya states: If having accepted an invitation, one wishes to go to another family without notifying one who shares the precepts or the invitation, if one goes and enters the door, one commits the offense. This differs from the precept on eating in turns: notifying a different person is notifying a different person; if one notifies someone within the same boundary, there is the possibility of searching [for the monk]. Hence the Vinaya states: If having notified [someone] one heads toward the village but turns back midway, or goes to another family, or goes to a storage storehouse in the monastery, or a room at the edge of the village, or a nunnery, or having gone to that layperson's house comes back out, in all these cases the previous notification is lost, and one must notify another again; otherwise, an offense is committed upon entering the door. The Vinaya states: Regarding non-offenses: as in the exceptions of the precept text; or if there is no bhikṣu who can be notified; or going to another storehouse or to nuns; or if families set out many seats and invite bhikṣus to form a single assembly, wherever one goes is a place of invitation, therefore there is no offense. The Sarvāstivāda Vinaya states: If the food is insufficient, or if one does not go to another place to seek [food], there is no offense. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā states: If a dānapati is preparing an offering for tomorrow, and a bhikṣu goes today, it is a prāyaścittika; except when summoned, then there is no offense.